Before the final curtain lowers for the last time, Grove City College’s national award-winning production of “La Bête” will offer an encore performance on campus at 7 p.m. April 25.

The play led off the prestigious Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival showca...se on April 14 in Washington, D.C., and will return for one last free performance in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center. No tickets are required; doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

“La Bête,” originally staged in March 2008, was one of the top two productions in the regional competition of the Kennedy Center festival in January. It was chosen as one of only four productions in the national showcase. It is the first year Grove City College has submitted any of its theatrical productions to be considered for the festival.

Written in iambic pentameter, David Hirson’s Molière-inspired comedy “La Bête” won numerous awards including the New York Newsday/Oppenheimer Award, Great Britain’s Lawrence Olivier Award for Comedy of the Year, as well as five Tony award nominations and six Drama Desk awards, including Best Play of 1991. Betsy Craig ’77, associate professor of English and theater, directs Grove City’s production of “La Bête.”

It is the story of Elomire, played by senior Pierce Babirak of Scarborough, Maine, a playwright who is forced to play second fiddle to a lesser writer and actor Valere, played by Doug Baker ’08. But Valere wins over Elomire’s patron Prince Conti, played by Jesse Aukeman ’08, and Elomire must choose between his art and his career. Patrick McElroy ’08 plays the part of Bejart; and senior Jennifer Ford of Rochester, N.Y., plays Dorine. Other cast members include: Megan Krimmel ’08; senior Luke Whipple of Freedom, Pa.; junior George Hampe of New Brighton, Pa.; senior Amanda Griswold of Clarence, N.Y.; and junior Abigail Van Patter of Matthews, N.C.
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